On Friday, Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, met Baroness Helene Hayman, Lord Speaker of the House of Lords of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, in the framework of the European Conference of the Presidents of Parliaments.
The Parties discussed the prospects of bilateral cooperation, especially in the agricultural sector.
Mr Lytvyn and Baroness Hayman discussed the problems of self-government and regional development. The Parties stressed the importance of preserving regional peculiarities, avoiding ‘regional selfishness.´ The Lord Speaker of the House of Lords deems necessary for the politicians to develop "responsibility for regional unity".
Baroness Hayman was interested in the opinion of Mr Lytvyn concerning the possibility of a common standpoint regarding Ukrainian-Russian relations and European integration pursuits of Ukraine within the Ukrainian political circles. She was also interested whether these alternatives can be harmonized. Mr Lytvyn stated that "we are doomed to harmonize them." "It would be difficult to talk about a stable Ukraine without civilized predictable relations with Russia. At the same time, a predictable stable Europe is impossible without a stable Ukraine", he stressed.
The Head of the Parliament stated that Russia had developed a clear-cut stand regarding relations with Ukraine. "You can take it or leave it. Ukraine has to develop a similar stand", he stated.
Mr Lytvyn also declared that the European choice of Ukraine is generally accepted, while its implementation remains a problem. The Head of the Parliament believes that Ukraine should focus on the settlement of domestic issues and implementation of reforms, then "the result of cooperation with the EU will be more apparent." "Ukrainian politicians should understand basic values indispensable for any society", V.Lytvyn declared.
Baroness Hayman agreed with Mr Lytvyn, stating that Ukraine "should strive towards internal harmony to provide for economic and political development." She also underscored the role of the parliament in this process.